Estate Planning Lawyer Lakewood, WA
If you have been putting off estate planning, you are not alone. Most people know they need a plan. They just have not made it happen yet. Our Lakewood, WA estate planning lawyer can help you move from intention to action with a plan that actually reflects your wishes, protects your family, and holds up when it matters most. Founder Robert Franco has practiced law for over a decade, earning an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Washington School of Law in 2018 and building a practice focused entirely on estate planning and probate for Washington individuals and families. Contact Eastside Estate Planning today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Eastside Estate Planning for Estate Planning in Lakewood, WA?
Washington-Licensed Attorney With Deep Estate Planning Knowledge
Robert Franco earned his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2013 and later completed an LL.M. in Tax Law at the University of Washington School of Law in 2018. He is admitted to the Washington State Bar Association and is an active member of its Taxation Section, which focuses on federal and state tax issues affecting Washington practitioners. He is also a member of the Cardozo Society of Washington State, the official Washington State Bar Association minority bar for Jewish legal professionals.
That background translates directly into better planning for Lakewood clients. Washington has its own standalone estate tax, specific probate rules, and community property considerations that differ from what you would find in most other states. We focus on your needs and what is possible under Washington State law to structure a plan that does more than just check a box.
Tax Knowledge That Shapes Every Document
Robert's LL.M. in Tax Law sets him apart from attorneys who focus only on document drafting. Understanding how Washington's estate tax, federal gift tax rules, capital gains, and income tax interact with an estate plan is not optional when you are designing something that should work across decades and life changes. Washington is one of the few states with a standalone estate tax, and the exemption is not portable between spouses. That single fact has significant consequences for married couples, and addressing it requires strategies like credit shelter trusts or gifting structures that go well beyond a basic will. As an estate planning attorney in Lakewood, WA, Robert brings that analytical layer to every client conversation.
A Process Designed Around Clients
Many Lakewood residents are busy. Our process is built accordingly. Most of our work takes place remotely, from the initial consultation through document review and signing. We guide clients from intake through final document delivery, explaining each document in plain English before anything gets signed. You will not leave our process with a stack of papers you do not understand.
Honest Communication and Flat-Fee Pricing
Estate planning conversations involve difficult topics, and the attorneys who do this work well are the ones who listen carefully and explain things clearly. Our transparent pricing model charges flat fees for will and trust packages. No hourly billing, no guessing what a question will cost you. Clients know the number before they sign on.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Robert and Christina did a fantastic job preparing our Trust and Healthcare directive documents. Very knowledgeable in Trust law and asked us all the right questions to assure a great final product." Cliff Van Pelt
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Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Lakewood
Estate planning for Lakewood residents involves more than a single document. Here is an overview of what we handle.
- Wills and last testaments. A will is the foundation of most estate plans. It names who receives your property, who raises your minor children if something happens to you, and who handles your estate. Without one, Washington's intestate succession statute under RCW 11.04.015 controls the distribution, regardless of your actual wishes. Parents with minor children who have no estate plan face real risk, because guardian designations can only be made in a valid will.
- Revocable living trusts. A revocable living trust lets your estate pass directly to your beneficiaries without court involvement. It avoids probate, keeps the details of your estate private, and can be amended at any time during your life. For married couples, a joint revocable trust also eliminates the need for two separate probate proceedings when each spouse passes.
- Irrevocable trusts. Unlike a revocable trust, an irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed after it is created. That inflexibility is the point. Assets placed in an irrevocable trust are typically removed from your taxable estate, which matters significantly once you are approaching Washington's estate tax threshold. They also provide a layer of asset protection that revocable trusts do not.
- Tax planning. For 2026, the Washington estate tax exclusion is $3,076,000 per individual, indexed for inflation. Estates above that amount face rates from 10% to 35%. Because Washington's exemption does not transfer between spouses, married couples whose combined estate may exceed the threshold need strategies to preserve both exemptions. The right tax planning approach can reduce or eliminate this exposure.
- Power of attorney. A durable power of attorney names someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Under RCW 11.125.050, Washington requires the document to be signed, dated, and either notarized or witnessed by two qualifying witnesses. Without one in place, your family may need a costly, time-consuming court proceeding to gain that authority.
- Healthcare directives and living wills. A healthcare directive identifies your preferences for medical treatment and names a healthcare agent. This is one of the most personal documents in an estate plan, and it belongs in every plan regardless of age or health status.
Washington Legal Requirements for Estate Planning
Several Washington statutes directly govern how estate planning documents are prepared and enforced.
Will validity under RCW 11.12.020. Under RCW 11.12.020, a valid Washington will must be written, signed by the testator, and witnessed by at least two competent individuals. Washington does not recognize handwritten wills unless they fall under a narrow set of foreign-will provisions. We help you avoid common estate planning mistakes, such as using out-of-state documents without review, failing to meet the witness requirements, or relying on a will that has never been updated after major life changes.
Intestate succession under RCW 11.04.015. If a Lakewood resident dies without a valid will, RCW 11.04.015 governs the distribution of assets. A surviving spouse receives all community property plus a share of the separate property, with children entitled to the remainder. That split can create friction in blended families or in households where the surviving spouse depends entirely on income from property now subject to a partial inheritance claim.
Washington estate tax under RCW 83.100. Washington imposes a standalone estate tax under RCW 83.100, separate from the federal system. The 2026 individual exclusion is $3,076,000. The rate begins at 10% and reaches a top rate of 35% on taxable amounts over $9 million. Washington's exemption is not portable between spouses, which means married couples can lose one exemption entirely without deliberate planning.
Power of attorney requirements under RCW 11.125. Washington's Uniform Power of Attorney Act, codified at RCW 11.125, governs how these documents must be signed. A power of attorney executed in Washington on or after January 1, 2017, must comply with RCW 11.125.050. A document designated as durable, as defined in RCW 11.125.020, survives the principal's incapacity and remains effective when it is needed most.
Important Aspects of a Lakewood Estate Planning Case
Matching Documents to Your Actual Situation
There is no one-size-fits-all estate plan. A single person with a modest estate has different needs than a married couple with grown children from prior relationships, a home, and retirement accounts. Getting the document structure right from the start matters. The wrong combination can produce unintended inheritances, unnecessary probate, or avoidable estate tax. We take the time upfront to understand your situation before recommending a path forward.
Why Trusts Must Be Properly Funded
Drafting a revocable trust is step one. Actually funding it is where many plans fall apart. Funding means re-titling assets, like real estate and bank accounts, into the trust's name. Assets you leave in your own name at death still go through probate even if a trust exists.
Incapacity Planning Is Not Optional
A complete estate plan addresses what happens if you are alive but unable to manage your own affairs. A durable power of attorney and healthcare directive fill that role. Without them, a family member seeking authority over your finances or medical decisions may need to go to court for guardianship or conservatorship, a process that is slow, expensive, and public. Every plan we prepare includes these documents because every person faces that risk.
Reviewing Plans When Life Changes
An estate plan signed five or ten years ago may not reflect your life today. Divorce changes beneficiary considerations. The birth of children or grandchildren changes guardian designations. A move to Washington from another state raises questions about document validity and applicable law. Even changes in the law itself, like Washington's 2025 estate tax legislation that raised the exemption threshold, may be reason enough to revisit your documents. We encourage every client to avoid estate planning mistakes by treating their plan as something that needs periodic maintenance, not a permanent fixture.
Planning Carefully When You Have Minor Children
If you have children under 18, your will needs a guardian designation. Without it, a court decides who raises your children, without any input from you. Beyond guardianship, you also need to think about how and when children receive inheritances. A trust that holds assets until a child reaches a certain age or milestone protects them from receiving a large sum at 18, when most young adults are not prepared to manage it responsibly.
Contact Eastside Estate Planning
Putting an estate plan in place does not have to be complicated. Our process starts with a free consultation, and most of our work can be handled remotely, so Lakewood residents can move through the process on their own schedule. Eastside Estate Planning uses flat-fee pricing so you know the cost before you commit. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with our Lakewood estate planning lawyer and get started with a custom estate plan today.